Dry Mouth

What do I need to know about dry mouth?

Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while–if they are nervous, upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems.

What causes dry mouth?

People get dry mouth when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there might not be enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. There are several reasons why these glands (called salivary glands) might not work right.

Side effects of some medicines – More than 488 medicines can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva. Medicines for high blood pressure and depression often cause dry mouth.